Note to our country

My friends,

As a nation, we banded together and definitively voted for Hope and Change. We marked this moment in history with clear proof that race is no longer an insurmountable obstacle towards achievement and equality. The promise of the American Dream has never before been so tangible to so many of us. Our nation is stronger because we spoke.

The citizens of America have united together to elect a new President, but we remain deeply divided over California’s Proposition 8 to eliminate gay marriage. Though this ballot measure is limited to California voters, Proposition 8’s impact makes California a proxy for our nation. Both sides have received significant funding from outside of California. Both sides can claim passionate supporters in every corner of the country. As we settle into some semblance of post-election normalcy over the next week, Proposition 8 is far from resolved to anyone’s satisfaction. We still have a long way to go before we see resolution as a nation.

I ask everyone to use the coming months and years to continue learning and discussing this issue. Let us use our time away from the fervor of 30 second advertising and petty signage thefts to understand our own views at a more measured pace. Let us discover our own path rather than travel the one set out for us by Angelina Jolie or a ministry 3000 miles away. In the age of Google, we have the tools to find our own knowledge and form our own views. This is the democratic way.


To my friends who supported Proposition 8,

52% of you have spoken, all of us in America have heard you. Our constitution gives citizens the right to express their own views and the right to vote however their values dictate. My views may disagree with you, but it is not appropriate for me to take away your freedoms. As we work together to build a stronger United States, I hope both sides learn to see each other as individual Americans rather than sides on a ballot measure.

I had the privilege to work with other volunteers at the No on 8 offices. I saw mothers working the phone banks for their sons. Neighbors lifting boxes to help neighbors. Brothers sorting data for their sisters. Retirees canvasing neighborhoods side by side with students. Churches pledging supplies and space. Friends support their friends in need. These are the behaviors that benefit society. These are the ties that constitute a family.

The volunteers have come from different backgrounds and situations. But our motivations are the same as yours. We volunteered because it was our duty as a community. We volunteered because we believe in our democracy. We volunteered to protect our loved ones from harm. Please remember that while our country is deeply divided on this issue, as individuals, we all act upon the same emotions.

The challenges facing our country will need more people than either side of Proposition 8 can claim. This presidential election has taught us that together we can accomplish great things. Together, we can fix our country. I ask you to get to know thy neighbor, your co-workers, the teachers, the couple down the street. Some will be gay, some will not be. Wave to them. Talk to them. Please get to know them, for we need the actions of each citizen to rebuild our country.


To my friends who opposed Proposition 8,

I have given my time and money to support gay marriage because I believe separate systems can never be truly equal. Our civil rights history bears this out. Democracy is a system that we Americans take great pride in. But ours is an imperfect and inefficient system born through 200+ years of legacy and adaptation. Change takes time. All of our freedoms have been earned through great effort. We need to see setbacks and individual challenges in this context- know this is a long process.

The teachings of some churches have hurt many of us. But let’s not dismiss the value of religion to society. Gay. Straight. Yes on 8. No on 8. We all deal with essentially the same issues in our lives. Our problems are the problems of Americans. Our issues are the issues of the United States. When we struggle as individuals, we turn to our communities to draw strength. Some of us turn to Jesus. Some of us turn to our families. In times of great upheaval and stress, we need our communities more than ever. For our nation to heal and move forward, the larger community we call the United States encompasses religion as well as our friends.

Though we voted for a presidential candidate with brown skin, some of us internally fear a black man walking towards us at night. How many of us become more aware of our surroundings when we see a man wearing a turban at an airport? Even the most self aware and enlightened of us harbor deep seated stereotypes. Our subconscious reflexes do not automatically define us as bigots. Our consciousness and free will enable us to act beyond our reflexes. It is our actions that reflect our values.

Our nation is uncomfortable with homosexuality. That in itself is not bigotry. Without seeing action that clearly demonstrates prejudice, we rush into unfair judgements. Let’s be careful when we sling around the word “bigot.” Reflexive responses can not be influenced by force, only with familiarity. Losing civil rights inflames us. Let the vitriol pass quickly and continue to demonstrate to the world the love, kindness, compassion, loss, worry, support, and hope that we show each other. These are the truths that are irrefutable. These are the truths everyone needs to see more of.


To all of us,

Like many in our country, I struggle with the challenges of healthcare, economy, housing, environment, and employment. I saw our country as systemically broken, and as a citizen, I made my views known by voting. Proposition 8 is only one piece of this intertwined organism we call the United States of America. Our issues are too complex and embedded to be solved overnight and we will continue to struggle for some time to come.

Yesterday, the citizens of the United States clearly defined democracy as Individual Decisions, United by Action. Each one of our individual voices made an impact when we all voted together. We have spoken with passion, and we have set change into motion. Let’s not lose our individual voices when times get better. Let’s not let complacency keep us from taking action. What we have accomplished together has renewed my faith in our country. We will be alright.

-davy